Foot-accelerator.



A. A. IEWALD.

FOOT ACCELERATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. I916.

"Patented N 14, 1916.

.tiguous to the steering wheel W.

ARNO A. EWALD, 0F OAKFIELD, WISCONSIN.

FOOT-ACCELERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed February 10, 1916. Serial No. 77,462.

1/ '0 all 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anxo A. Ew'ALn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakficld, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of \l'isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Accele 'ators; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved type of foot accelerator for motor vehicles, the present embodiment cf the device being designed primarily for use on Ford automobiles, although its application need not be limited thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive accelerator which may be readily applied to use without changing the parts of the automobile with which it cooperates.

With this general object in view, the improvements reside in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described.

and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawing which constitutes a partof this application and in which,

Figure 1 is a f 'agmentary top plan view of an automobile showing the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the carburetor of the automobile and the improved parts applied thereto; and Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the carburcter and other parts seen in Fig. 2.

In specifically describing the invention shown in the drawings above briefly described, similar reference characters will be placed on corresponding parts throughout the several views and reference will be here- .in made to the numerous elements by their with the common type of L-shaped crank L movable in a horizontal plane and having in the free end of its longer arm an eye winch usually receives the downturned end E of a hand actuated operating rod 1t whose control member is positloned con- The shorte arm of the crank L is equipped with a set screw or the like 8 adapted to abut a stop 8' .on the carburetcr C to limit the movement of said crank.

All of the parts so far briefly described are of common construction, the end E of the rod B being usually received in the eye E, whereby endwise shifting of said rod by the operator will adjust the throttle valve by properly turning its stem S. \Vhen using my improved accelerator, however, the end E is removed from the eye E and is received in the arcuate slot 1 formed in a flat horizontal plate 2 which overlies the crank L, a bolt or the like 3 being passed throughsaid plate and through the eye E, while an additional bolt l passes through said plate and through the shorter arm of the crank. The plate 2 is preferably of approximately triangular shape having two of its sides positioned at right angles to each other, while its third side is curved to conform to the curvature of the slot 1, the latter being disposed concentric with the stem S.

- In addition to the features above described, the plate 2 is formed with a circular opening 5 preferably disposed at one of its corners and in close proximity to one end of the slot 1, said opening receiving therein the downturned front end (i of a foot actuated supplen'iental operating rod '7 whose rear end carries an appropriate head 8 to be engaged by the foot of the operator. The end (5 of the rod 7 is formed with an aperture into which one end of a coiled spring 9 is hooked, the other end of said spring being anchored at an appropriate point, prefc ably to one of the bolts on the transmission housing (not shown). Thus, the spring 9 exerts its tension to normally retain the stop screw 5 in contact with the stop a, to hold the crank L in the position at which the throttle valve ispartially closed as it normally stands. In addition to this use of thelspring, however, it serves to prevent disconnection of the rod 7 and plate 2.

With the parts constructed as above described, forward movement of the rod 7 b engagement of theo ')erators foot with the i operation takes place without moving the rod R or the means for shifting said rod by' hand, this being allowed by the provision of the slot 1. The rod 7 passes slidably through a Icircular attaching plate 11, the

latter being composed' of two sections notched on their meeting edges for the reception of said rod as clearly shown in Fi l, the plate in question being secured by screws or the like to the inclined portion of the automobile floor.

From the foregoing description, taken in' connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive attachment for accomplishing the desired results, and that the construction of the parts with which the improvements cooperate need not be changed in any manner Whatso ever in applying such improvements to use.

I claim 1. The combination with the upright throttle valve stem of a carbureter, a horizontal L-shaped operating crank secured at its angle to said stem and havingin the free end of its longer arm an eye, and a horizontally extending hand-actuated operating rod having a downturned end; of a sheet metal plate overlying the crank and having an arcuate slot concentric with the valve stem.

and receiving therein the downturned end of the operating red, a fastener passing through the plate and the eye, a second fastener passing through said plate and through cuate slot concentric with the valve stem.

and receiving therein the downturned end of theoperating rod, said plate also having a circular opening adjacent one end of the slot, a fastener passing through the plate and the eye, a second fastener passing through said plate and through another part of the crank, a supplemental foot-actuated operating rod having an apertured downturned end received in the aforesaid circular opening, and a coiled spring having one of its ends hooked in the aperture, the other end of said spring being anchored.

3. A foot accelerator attachment for use in connection with. the throttle valve operating crank of a carbureter and the manual control rod for said crank, said attachment comprising a plate to be secured to said crank, said plate having an arcuate slot to be positioned concentric with the pivot of the crank, said slot being provided "for the purpose of slidably connecting the aforesaid manual contr l rod with the plate, a foot actuated operating rod pivoted to said plate, and a spring for holding said plate in a single normal position.

'4. A foot accelerator attachment for use in connection with the throttle valve operating crank of a carbureter and the manual control rod for said crank, said attachment comprising a plate'to be secured to said crank, said plate having an arcuate slot and an aperture both of which extend there through, said slot being adapted to be posi tioned concentric with the pivot of the crank and being provided for the purpose of establishing a sliding connection between the aforesaid control rod and the plate, a foot actuated control rod having one end bent laterally through the aforesaid-aperture, the terminal of said laterally bent end having an opening. formed therethrough, and a spring having one end secured in said opening, said spring serving to retain the plate in a single normal position and also to prevent removal of said foot actuated rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Are-No a. EWALD.

iVitnesses l/V. E. BRISTOL, MABEI. E. MORGAN. 

